Woman cop manhandled at Lalbaugcha Raja pandal

Accused was trying to enter the heavily guarded premises with his vehicle when he was stopped by the officer

A woman police officer on Monday registered a case with Kalachowkie police station against a resident of Ganesh Nagar, the residential around the famous Lalbaugcha Raja pandal, for allegedly manhandling her.

Theaccused has been identified as Sagar Mangesh Rahate, 30 and the complainant, assistant police inspector Rekha Khajure, 31, attached to Vikhroli police station, said the incident happened when she was posted at the pandal on bandobast duty.

The incident occurred at around 1pm on Monday at one of the entrance from Ganesh Nagar into the pandal. “There was an altercation between the police officer and the accused who is a local resident. He had a pass for himself but he wanted to take his relatives inside to which the officer objected,” said a police officer from Kalachowkie police station. “We had asked for additional staff for police bandobast after which officers from other police stations have also been posted at the pandal for security,” the officer added.

The complainant alleged that she was pushed and manhandled. She approached the police station following which a case was registered against Rahate. “The lady officer has sustained injury on her finger and we have issued passes to local residents and identification stickers to their vehicles. There have been skirmishes between the local residents and the police over trying to take ticketless relatives inside the pandal,” said the officer.

Police sources stated that there are multiple gates while a huge police security has been imposed in view of the large crowds that visit the pandal. “There are many buildings in the vicinity and hence at times there are altercations,” said the officer.

Rahate has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty). “We will go through the CCTV footages in the case,” said Dilip Ugale, senior police inspector, Kalachowkie police station.